Railway journal boxes



May 16, 1961 G. M. EGART RAILWAY JOURNAL BOXES Filed Dec. ll, 1958T/UZZW Gee?" e 772,5y a,

United States Patent l(")ce ="2`,984,52f Patented May 16, 1961 2,984,525RAILWAY JOURNAL BOXES GeorgefM. Egal-t, 202 N. Merrill Ave., Park Ridge,Ill. Filed Dec. 11, 1958, Ser. No. 781,825 5 Claims. (Cl. 308-79) Thisinvention relates to railway journal boxes and particularly `to theprotection and conservation of the lubricant used in such journal boxes.

With the development and use of journal box lubricators, `considerableattention `has been given to the loss of lubricant from journal boxes,and efforts to minimize such loss have centered about the development ofmore eflicient sealing means for the journal box. Thus considerableeiort has been given to improved sealing of the journal box lid and toimprovements or changes in dust guards. Despite `the cost and refinementof such improved sealing devices the loss of oil from journal boxes haspersisted, and in most instances has been increased.

.It -is therefore the primary object of the present inyention tosubstantially reduce or eliminate such oil loss; to accomplish this by'eliminating `primary `cause of such oil loss; 4and to ,effect `the`saving of lubricant in such `a way as to materially .reduce thecontamination of lubri- .cantain journal boxes.

=In accomplishing the foregoing objectives the present inventionprovides means for eliminating and counteracting those `positive forceswhich have heretofore caused discharge of oil from the journal box.Thus, I have discovered that in the normal operation of railway equipment the oil fed to the bearing surfaces of the journal has necessarilyaccumulated to some extent on ,the dust guard seat or at `the junctureof the dust guard seat with the fillet ofthe journal, and in thisposition has been subject to displacement along the dust guard seattoward `the wheel so fas to `escape from the ljournal box. I `havefurther discovered thatsuch oil accumulated on or near the `dust guardseat is actually subject to substantial and repetitive displacing forcesprovided by rapidly movingair that is in effect pumped or forced out ofthejournal box about the Idust guard seat and through the `opening of`the dust guard. This air-pumping yresults from the lateral orrendwisedisplacement of journal in and with respect to the ljournal box,because, in `such endwise movement of the `journalinwardly and-thenoutwardly of the journal box, "the journal :acts `as a `pump pistonto first compress 1the :airin the `journal box and `expell some of the.'air, `and `then :to `.reduce the air `pressure in the bQX so as tocause inflow `of air. A limited amount of such lateral movement isalways Ypresent 'in such a railway wheelrlmount, and :this lateral`increases with the progressive Wear of the journal bearing and ltheiillet of the journal.

The undesired discharge of oil from the journal box due -to `the `abovedescribed pumping action `of the journal is accentuated by anyphysicallor operational condition whichincreases the speedof `movementof the pumped airtinto and out of the `journal box. Thus, where the fitof the dust guard is .relatively tight so as to alord but `a small`eiTective `area for intake and dischargerof air, a `movement of thejournal through a particular axial distance `and at a `particular axialrate, tends to `produce exceedingly high air velocity, and because ofthis .the

electiveness of the air in carrying and undesirably discharginglubricant is increased. Similarly, where the Vlateralmovement of the,journal takes place at a high Vrate, a correspondingly higher air owrate is produced for any particular area of discharge opening and henceunder such conditions the lubricant loss is accentuated.

With the foregoing in mind it is a `further and more specilic object ofthe present invention to enable compensation to be provided in a journalbox for variation in air pressure and air volume that would otherwisetake place, and to thus prevent loss of lubricant due to rapid dischargeof air from the journal box.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claims, and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, which by way of illustration show preferredembodiments of the present invention and the principles thereof, andwhat is now considered to be `the best mode in which to apply theseprinciples. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same orequivalent principles may be made as desired 'by those skilled in theait with- `out departing from the invention.

AIn the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional View through a jour- `nal box havinglubricant-conserving means associated therewith `in accordance with thepresent invention; and

`Fig. 2 is a view similar to` Fig. `l and at a much smaller scale andwhich illustrates an alternative `form of means for conserving thelubricant.

For purposes of disclosure the invention .is herein illus- `trated inFig. 'l as embodied in a railway wheel mount embodying a conventionaljournal box 11 which may be either of the integral orsepara'ble type..The journal box 11 'has the usual wedge 12 `and journal bearing 13.therein .for cooperation with a journal 14 that extends Yinto `theright .hand .end of the 'journal box 11. The journal box 11 has .theusual dust guard pocket 15 that forms aborder 'for the inner opening 116of .the journal box, and a dust guard 17 of any conventional type may bepositioned Within .the dust lguard pocket I5. The dust guard 17has theusual central opening 17C formed there- 4in for cooperation with .thedust `guard seat 14S of the journal 14, and while the opening 517C ofthe dust guard theoretically .engages the dust `guard seat 14S `to forma relatively `tight seal `about the journal, the normal wear `of thedust guard tends to enlarge the opening 17C so as to Vproduce van,annular clearance space 18 between the .dust guard seat andthe `opening17C. This annular space may vary in its effective area in accordancewith the type 0f dustguard or with the wear to which .the .dust guard'has 'been subjected, but for illustrative purposes `a relatively largeannular .clearance space 18 .has been .'illustrated.

To the left of the .dust .guard seat, the journal 14 has the usualfillet `14F that `is arranged to engage the adjacent and rounded .end ofthe journal bearing 13 to limit the Alefthand shifting movement of thejournal 14 with respect .to the bearing 13. The bearing 13 is of courseengaged'by the usual .bearing surface 14B .of the journal 14, andtheleft lhand or outer end of the bearing surface 14B is deiined by theusual 4flange 14A which by engagement with the left .hand end .of thejournal bearing .13, serves to limit the right hand shifting movement ofthe journal.

The spacing o'f the fillet 14F and the ange .14A of the journal normally,provides for limited endwise shifting movement of the journal, thisshifting `movement being `termed the lateral of the journal. Theshifting movement tends .to increase with wear of the flange, .the lletand the bearing 13.

'In Fig. 11, means are shown for applying lubricant .to

the journal, and since such a lubricant-applying means may take manydifferent forms, such means having been diagrammatically indicated at 20as being located in the journal box 11 beneath the journal and in anoperative association with the bearing surface 14B of the journal.Lubricant such as oil is fed by the lubricator to the bearing surface14B, and as Vthis lubricant is carried with the rotating journal 14 intocontact with the journal bearing 13, such lubricant tends to bedistributed over the bearing surface 14B and over the bearing surface ofthe journal bearing 13, and excess lubricant is forced toward oppositeends of the bearing surface 14B and particularly toward the areaprovided at the fillet 14F. There is thus an accumulation of lubricanton the journal in this area which is closely adjacent to the annularspace 18.

Where a journal box is closed by one of the usual forms of journal coveror is tightly sealed by some of the more recent kinds of journal boxcovers, there is a tendency for the accumulated oil in the area of thefillet 14F and the dust guard seat 14S to be discharged from the journalbox so as to deplete the oil supply. This undesired discharge of 4thelubricant is caused by the reciprocation of the journal 14 endwisewithin the journal box, such reciprocation producing a pumping actionthat causes air to flow in and out of the journal boxV through the space18 and to carry oil through this vspace to discharge the same outside ofthe journal box.

This same pumping action is also objectionable in that when air is beingdrawn into the journal box, such air tends to carry dirt and water intothe journal box to contaminate the oil supply contained therein.

Under the present invention, the aforesaid objectionable pumping actionis rendered ineffective or is counteracted by means that are made a partof the journal box enclosure and which are responsive to the endwiseshifting of the journal to maintain substantially the same air volumeand substantially the same air pressure within the journal box. Thus, asshown in Fig. 1, a special journal box cover is provided having hingelugs 26 adapted for association with a pivot pin 27 and the usual lugs28 of the journal box to pivotally support the cover 25 in position overthe open or access end of the journal box. The cover 25 may be held inits closed position by any of the usual lid-closing arrangements, and asherein shown, a torsion spring 29 has been associated with the cover toimpart yieldingly closing force thereto.

The lid 25 comprises a frame 30 having one edge portion 30B adapted toseat against the usual seating surface that surrounds the open accessend of the journal box, and it is upon this rim 30 that the lugs 26 areprovided. At its outer edge the rim 30 has a flange 30P, and an outercover member 31 has an exposed flange 31F so that the border of aflexible member such as a diaphragm 32 may be clamped between theflanges 31F and 301;` by means of bolts 33. The diaphragm 32 haspressure plates 34 and 35 located on opposite sides of its centralportion to which the plates are clamped by means of bolts 36, and anexpansive coil spring 37 is disposed between the pressure plate 34 andan opposed wall 31W of the outer housing so as to normally press theflexible member or diaphragm 32 toward the right as shown in Fig. l.Suitable positioning means 38 are provided on the pressure plate 34 andthe wall 31 for holding the spring 37 in position.

On the pressure plate 36, projecting strut 40 is provided so that thestrut extends parallel to the axisv of the journal 14 and toward theadjacent face of the flange 14A. On the extreme end of the strut 40, ahead 40H is provided for engagement with the end surface of the journal14.

It will be noted that the exposed diameter of the flexible member ordiaphragm 32 is somewhat larger than the diameter of the journal 14, butthis relationship is such that the diaphragm or flexible member 32, whenexed or actuated to the left by a corresponding left hand movement ofthe journal 14, will maintain substantially the same internal volumewithin the journal box 11.

Thus, when a left hand movement of the journal 14 into the journal boxtends to produce a reduction in the air volume within the journal box11, the diaphragm or flexible member 32 will be correspondingly actuatedto the left to tend to increase the volume of the journal box and this,therefore, amounts to an equalizing action which maintains substantiallythe same air volume and substantially the same air pressure within thejournal box during such shifting movement of the journal box therein. Itmight be pointed out that the outer housing 31 of the cover 25 isvented, preferably by opening 31D formed near the bottom thereof so thatthis opening 31D serves not only as a vent but also as a drain openingfor the enclosed space within the housing '31.

With the structure that is thus provided, the maintenance ofsubstantially the same air pressure and substantially the same airvolume within the journal box 14 during the endwise shifting back andforth of the journal 14, eliminates and prevents fast ow of air throughthe space 18, and hence loss of lubricant is prevented and thecontamination of the lubricant by dirt or water is minimized.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1 the flexible member32 is relatively heavy and is positively actuated from the journal 14 inits reciprocating movements. Such positive actuation, however, is notessential to the present invention since any volume and pressurecompensating means that operates to avoid volume changes and pressurechanges in the journal box will accomplish the objectives of the presentinvention. Thus, in Fig. 2 of the drawings, a journal box 111 is shownhaving journal 114 associated therewith in the same manner as in Fig. l,but in this embodiment of the invention, a journal box cover is providedwherein a relatively light and extremely exible diaphragm 132 is clampedin position between the two sections of the cover 125. 'Ihe flexiblemember 132 is waterproof and substantially air tight and hence theflexible member 132 may respond to very slight changes of pressure thatmay be induced in the journal box 111 by axial movement of the journal114. Thus the flexible member 132 may be shifted from its full lineposition of Fig. 2 to the dotted line position that is shown, and thisis accomplished by very slight pressure changes so as to compensate forvolume changes that would otherwise take place. The arrangement shown inFig. 2 of the drawing is thus effective to prevent oil loss as well ascontamination of the oil by dirt or water.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the presentinvention enables oil loss and oil contamination in journal boxes to besubstantially eliminated, and it will also be apparent that thesedesirable objectives are obtained through the use of structure that issimple and reliable in its operation, and which may be economicallymanufactured and serviced and may be applied readily and easily toconventional railway journal boxes.

Thus, while preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustratedherein, it is to be understood that changes and variations may be madeby those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scopeof the appending claims.

Iclaim:

1. In a railway wheel mount, a journal box with a journal extending intosaid journal box, a dust guard at one end of the journal box surroundingthe journal, a cover at the other end of said box, means including ajournal bearing in said box associating said box and said journal forlimited relative movement axially of the journal, and a movable memberexposed on one side within the box and exposed to atmospheric pressureon its other side and shiftable in response to such relative movementsof the journal and before any substantial change in air pressure withinthe box to offset the airpumping action of the journal.

2. In a journal box cover, an open frame having an inner face adapted toseat on the bordering edges of the access opening of a journal box,hinge lugs at one side of the frame for hinged connection with thelid-mounting lugs of a journal box, a exible member positioned againstand in spanning relation to the other side of said frame, an outermember clamping said exible member against said frame, a spring actingbetween said members to urge said flexible member inwardly of the frame,and a rigid strut carried by said flexible member and projecting fromthe inner face thereof for engagement by the end of a journal when thecover is in closing posit-ion on a journal box.

3. -In a journal box cover, an open frame having an inner face adaptedto seat on the bordering edges of the access opening of a journal box,hinge lugs at one side of the frame for hinged connection with thelid-mounting lugs of a journal box, a flexible member positioned againstand in spanning relation to the other side of said frame, an outermember having a border portion disposed opposite said bordering edgesand clamping said exible member against said frame, said outer memberhaving walls protecting said flexible member and defining a substantialclearance space opposite the outer side of said ilexible member, aspring acting between said members to urge said exible member inwardlyof the frame, and

a rigid strut carried by said exible member and projecting from theinner face thereof for engagement by the end of a journal when the coveris in closing position on a journal box.

4. In a journal box cover, a body having an inner rface adapted to seaton the bordering edges of the access opening of a journal box, hingelugs at one side of the body for hinged connection with the lid-mountinglugs of a journal box, a volume adjusting member mounted in said bodyfor movement to adjust the effective volume of a journal box, springmeans urging said mem-ber inwardly of said body, and means carried bysaid volume adjusting member and projecting therefrom for engagement bythe end of a journal when the cover is in closing position on a journalbox.

5. A railway wheel mount according to claim `1 wherein said movablemember comprises an extremely flexible waterproof diaphragm that isresponsive to very slight changes in air pressure within the box.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,071,989 Dehu Sept. 2, 1913 2,477,177 Hackedorn July 26, 1949 2,676,073Boden Apr. 20, 1954 2,714,046 Barber July 26, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS839,034 France Dec. 26, 1938

